The Financial Planning and Properties Committee weighed three options Tuesday for Rockford Public Library spending next year:

Budget 1: Proposed collecting $7,005,228 ...

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On the table

The Financial Planning and Properties Committee weighed three options Tuesday for Rockford Public Library spending next year:Budget 1: Proposed collecting $7,005,228 in property taxes. The library would apply a rate of 0.44217 percent to the district's estimated assessed value of $1.5 billion. It would mean keeping the rate essentially flat, collecting $500,000 less in property tax revenue and reducing spending by the same amount. Budget would be $8.3 million.Suggested cuts include $100,000 in new materials, $100,000 in facilities maintenance, $14,000 in conferences and travel for board members, $46,000 for programs at the new Nordlof Center.Budget 2: Proposed collecting $7.2 million in property taxes. The library would apply a rate of 0.45446 percent to the district's estimated assessed value of $1.5 billion. The library would collect $300,000 less than it did last year. Budget would be $8.5 million.Under this plan, the library would reduce materials' spending by $50,000. Other cuts would include $100,000 for facilities maintenance, the fund that covers emergency repairs, from broken windows to water leaks; and $19,805 for programming at the Nordlof Center.Budget 3: Proposed collecting $7.5 million property taxes. This would be the same amount the library levied this year. The rate would need to increase to 0.47340 under this scenario because of the drop in equalized assessed value of properties within the district. Budget would be $8.8 million.What they said: The committee recommended Option 2.

ROCKFORD — The Rockford Public Library Board could lower its tax levy Monday night, a move several taxing bodies talked about doing this year but few have done.

In the library's case, it means collecting $7.2 million next year. That's $300,000 less than it collected this year. It will translate to $300,000 in cuts to next year's $8.5 million budget, meaning less money for new materials and other assorted costs like a new desk at the Rock River Branch.

The library's rate would go up by about 1 cent.

The owner of a $100,000 home paid about $120 to the library this year. In typical times, a 1-cent hike would mean about $4 more on the tax bill. Next year, with declining property values across the region, some taxpayers could see a decrease instead.

"It's a tough year for our community," board President Paul Logli said. "Meanwhile, we will be facing an extraordinary year with relocation of some form of our downtown main branch" because of a lengthy environmental cleanup.

Levies are the total property tax dollars that taxing bodies like schools and governments plan to collect in the coming year. Government leaders set the levy each year by submitting to the county clerk the amount they wish to collect.

Most taxing bodies ask for more money each year. After years of keeping its levy flat, Winnebago County approved an increase for next year. The Rockford School District voted to keep its flat this year, then it debated lowering the levy but took no action. Government bodies have until Dec. 31 to set their levies.

A handful of library board members discussed three budget proposals last week and agreed to reduce the levy but raise the rate. An option that would lower the levy and keep the rate relatively flat was quickly dismissed. It would have meant reducing spending by $500,000.

The committee's recommendation awaits board approval.

The library's budget relies heavily on property taxes. The revenue the library collects from its levy makes up 85 percent of its income.

The library board meets 6 p.m. Monday at the East Branch, 6685 E. State St.